Means for supporting boxes and their contents during passage through a gluing machine



Dec. 5, 1961 T. l.. PRocToR 3,011,298

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BOXES ANO THEIR CONTENTS DURING PASSAGE THROUGH A GLUING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H, mlhmil INVENTOR.

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MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BOXES AND THEIR CONTENTS DURING PASSAGE THROUGH A GLUING'MACHINE Filed May 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7204745 ,Dfw/0A United States Patent 3,011,298 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BOXES AND THEIR CONTENTS DURING PASSAGE THROUGH A GLUING MACHINE Thomas L. Proctor, San Bernardino, Calif., assignor to Pure Gold, Inc., Redlands, Calif., a corporation of California Filed MayS, 1959, Ser. No. 811,077 2 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 374) This invention relates generally to packaging machinery of the type used in gluing the flaps of paper boxes containing fruit, such as citrus fruit, or other easilyydamaged goods, immediately prior to the step of sealing the boxes, and more particularly relates to means for supporting the 'boxes at the top and bottom thereof during the application of glue or paste to the top and bottom side aps of the box.

In box or carton gluing equipment the boxes to be sealed are customarily advanced through the machine with the side flaps at the top and bottom opened outwardly lfor the application of paste or glue thereto. During this time a platen or plate is used for supporting the boxes and their contents and a bar is used to hold the end flaps at the top of the box down in proper position over the contents. This is usually satisfactory for conventional boxes of the type wherein the end aps are suciently long that they meet or substantially meet, at their inner edges, and thus completely cover the contents. However, it is very advantageous from a cost standpoint to be able to employ boxes of a type wherein the end flaps are relatively shorter and, when folded over the contents, leave a considerable space at the center of the box between the inner ends of the aps. The contents of the box are thus exposed in this region between the inner'ends of the flaps and, even though they may be covered with a thin layer of kraft paper, are extremelyapt to be damaged as the box passes through the conventional type of gluing machine. Unless the friut is used within a very short time after packaging, a single bruised fruit will eventually cause spoilage of substantially the entire contentsv of the box.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide novel meansV for incorporating in a gluing machine for paper boxes which functions to support the boxes in their passage through the machine at both the top and bottom portions thereof in a manner such that any exposed or thinly covered fruit is fully safeguarded against damage, thereby enabling the use of cartons or boxes having relatively short end aps which do not meet when folded over the contents of the box.

It is a particular object to provide novel means to take the place of the conventional rigid platen used for supporting boxes in their passage through a gluing machine,l

and novel means to take the place of the conventional bar of such a machine used for engaging Ithe end flaps at the top of the box, which, in each case, provides a movable surface of a flexible nature for contact with the box and any fruit'which may be exposed or thinly covered by inadequate means for resisting abrasion'of the fruit.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a movable belt means for engaging and supporting the top vand bottom of the box during application of the-glue tothe side flaps. I f

Another object of the inventiony is toV provide an apparatus of simple construction which can be readily fabricated and yeasily installed in existing equipment or incorporated in new equipment. Y

These andy Aother :objects will be apparent `from the drawings andthe following description. Referringto the drawings, which are vforgillustrative purposes only:

FIGal is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus for applying glue vorpaste to paper car-tons or boxes;A

3,011,298 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. l, on a somewhat larger scale; Y

IG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper support; an

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower support. y

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally designates a machine for applying glue to paper cartons or boxes, one of which is fragmentarily shown inthe drawing and designated as 12. The cartons pass from left to right through the machine and are customarily propelled by a chain conveyor 14 supported in any suitable manner and having cross rods 15 which extend between the cartons. The machine comprises a frame 16 of any desired construction and ythis includes channel-like side sections 17 which dene a passage or space 18 through which the boxes pass from left to right, as viewed in FIGS. l and 2. The side sections carry guide rails 20 for the boxes. The latter are supported beyond both ends of the machine 11 upon any suitable type of guide or conveyor, not shown.

At the entrance end of the machine-is a pair of upper opening tins 22 and a corresponding lower pair (not shown). Likewise at the .other end of the machine is an upper pair of closing'ns 24 and a correspondinglower pair (not shown). These fins are of a conventional construction, and, as a box passes through the machine the side flaps thereof at the top and at the bottom are folded outwardly by the opening and glue or paste is applied yto the inner surfaces thereof by conventional rollers 26 after which the closing tins serve to. return the iaps over and underrthe .upper and lower surfaces of the box respectively, in a manner well known in the art. p v

For the purpose of supporting the boxes intheir passage through the machine I provide a lower support 30 shown mounted upon a plurality of posts 31. The supdesigned to hold down the upper eind flaps and contents attached to section S1 at 60. Section 58 is held atV an` port 3i) comprises a pair of lateral, parallel angle iron frame members 33 between which are mounted a plurality of transversely extending, laterally spaced rollers 34. An endless belt 3S, which may be made of a rubberlike material, or suitable plastics such as nylon, is trained over the rollers. At the front end of the frame vI provide a rigid extension or tongue 38 comprising an upwardly inclined plate 39 with tapered side flanges 40, the latter having extensions 41 which are bolted or otherwise secured to elements 33. Rollers 42 extend between the flanges 4t).

At the rear of the support I provide an extension or tongue 44 which tapers both upwardly and laterally inwardly toward its end. This tongue comprises a plate 45 with tapered side flanges 46 having extensions 47 bolted or otherwise secured to the frame members 33. Rollers 4S extend between the side flanges.

The tapered construction of the tongues 38 and 44 facilitates the entrance of the forward tongue 38 beneath the end flaps of the box as the side aps are Amoved outwardly by the lower opening ns, and facilitates the closing of the side ilaps after the glue has been applied.

Spaced above the box support 30 a distance equal to the height of a'box, I provide a box-holding means 50 of the box during passage of the box through the gluing "machine The box-holding means includes a mainsection S1 which is secured by studs 531to cross members 54 of the lupper frame portion 55 of themachine. The means 50 has a forward section 58 which is hingedly inclined position to facilitate entrance of the boxes beneath the main section 51 by a line or cable 61 attached tor-a winch 62 or other/suitable meansfor adjusting the length of the line. t

Both sections 51 Iand 58 of the means 50 are formed of langle iron type side members 64 and suitable cross members 65. A plurality of rollers 70 extend between the side members and support an endless belt 72. The forward section is shown as having a guard member 474 at its forward end which assists in deilecting the forward top end flap 12EF downwardly as the box passes under it and deflects the top side flaps 12SF outwardly. The guard is formed to provide a recess 76 for receiving a finger 78 which moves upwardly to the broken line position of FIG. 2 and then returns quickly in synchronization with the -approaching box to fold down the rear end iiap (not shown) of the box beneath the section 58 of the means 51.

In the operation of the apparatus, a box 12 enters the gluing machine as shown in FIG. 2 and is propelled therethrough by the conveyor 14. The lower pair of opening ns (not shown) serves to deect the side flaps 12SF at the bottom of the box outwardly for gluing as the box reaches the tongue 38 of the support 30. The tongue enters between the outwardly moving side flaps as the box progresses, the box ultimately being supported upon the belt 35. The box sets the belt in motion and moves thereon to the tongue 44 at the other end of the box where the closing fins move the bottom side iiaps back into position under the box. In the meantime the upper part of the box enters beneath the forward section 58 of the lmeans 50 and the side flaps at the top of the box are deiiected outwardly by the guard member 74 and the upper opening fins 22. The guard member 74 also serves to depress the forward top end ilap and the finger 78 subsequently depresses the Irear top end flap (not shown) so that the two top end aps are at and overlie the contents of the box as the same enters beneath the holddown means 50. As the box enters beneath the main section 51 the belt thereof is set in motion. Thus the box i-s adequately supported at top and bottom without there being any damaging relative movement between the box and the support and holddown means therefor. The belts 35 and 72 of cou-rse are somewhat narrower than the boxes so las not to interfere with movement of the side aps.

In some instances it may be desirable to drive the belts 35 and 72 in syncbronism with the conveyor 14 to insure against any slippage between the belts and the box. This can readily be done by motorized drive means of any conventional type.

Although I have illustrated `and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In lapparatus for applying glue to the inner surface of the side aps at the top and bottom of a loaded paper box to be sealed having means for moving the box endwise and, during movement thereof, extending the flaps outwardly, applying glue thereto, and returning the ilaps, the combination therewith of a main frame, a subframe mounted on said main frame, parallel rollers carried by said subframe, a belt trained over said rollers and providing an upper, generally horizontal run upon which a box can be supported, a tapered tongue member at each end of said subframe extending beyond the ends of said belt, antifriction means mounted in said tongue members and projecting above the upper surfaces thereof, and an elongated box-holding surface including a movable endless box-holding belt having a lower run spaced above and facing the upper run of said first-mentioned belt.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said boxholding belt is supported on rollers carried on a 'amework having a forward, pivotally mounted end section, and in which means is provided between the main frame and said framework for adjustably positioning said pivotal'ly mounted section of the framework.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

